About 174 barangays in the second district of Negros Oriental will receive three radio handsets and one 950-watt generator set each, from Board Member Erwin Michael Macias, to help in their disaster preparedness programs and other emergencies.

Macias said the assistance will capacitate the barangays in times of emergencies, especially those in far-flung areas, where a two-way communication system is very important, especially during power outages.

Radio handsets are also important in the anti-criminality campaign of the barangays because officials or residents can call police stations for assistance.

Macias, who is an amateur radio enthusiast, said he plans to establish a repeater system for the networking purposes of all the barangays so that those in far-flung areas can connect to the lowlands, with the use of the repeater system.

The project is worth P1.3 million.

Macias said all the barangays will be given the radio handsets and generator sets regardless of political affiliations.

The barangays in Mabinay were the first recipients, except for four, whose barangay captains refused to attend the turnover ceremony. But Macias said they can get the radio handsets and generators for their barangays from his office.

Macias said he requested the attendance of the barangay officials during the distribution as per requirement of the Commission on Audit, that all barangay council members and captains have to sign the donation.

All the barangays in Tanjay City also received a similar donation, and the rest of the municipalities will follow.